A/N: Here we go, another chapter, lemme know your thoughts :)
Chapter 5
Emily and Mike walked through the market, spotting Antonio up ahead.
"What a beautiful day for a picnic," smiles Emily.
"Yeah, thanks for inviting us Antonio" nods Mike as he and Emily sit down in front of his stall.
"My pleasure. Though it's going to be your pleasure once you taste my Habanero Hollandaise Herring burger," smiles Antonio as he makes it. "Little bit of this, little bit of that."
"Great, I'll try anything once," smiles Mike.
"Just remember to get rid of the heads before Evie sees them."
Antonio smiles and then he face creases in confusion as he sees some guy suddenly get onto his knees with his hands in front of him.
"Wow what is up with that guy?" he asks.
Mike and Emily look over, and look equally as confused.
Suddenly a guy behind Emily drops down onto all fours, "maybe they're doing yoga?" offers Mike, but he had a bad feeling.
"Guys, I think there's something wrong," says Emily as she stands up and moves towards the guy, Mike moving with her. But before Antonio can move, he's zapped as well, his soul being stuck in one of his fishes.
All around Mike and Emily the Nighlok switched people's souls out with the objects.
Emily and Mike realise what's going on and morph knowing the others would be on their way.
"Those rangers should be here by now" notes the Nighlok as he steps out.
"Earth Slicer" shouts Emily as she sends it at him.
He yelps and ducks barely avoiding it.
"Go help those people, I got this" says Mike.
"You sure?" asks Emily.
"Yep," nods Mike.
Emily runs over to the people trying to get their attention or shake them out of whatever the Nighlok had done.
"Just like the others, they're in a trance," calls Emily.
"What did you do to all of them?" demands Mike, "wake them up now."
"Nah I don't think so" retorts the Nighlok.
"I said wake them up" repeats Mike as he attacks.
Emily joins the fight as well but both are thrown backwards.
"Too easy," cackles the Nighlok as he sends his attack trying to switch Emily and Mike's souls with inanimate objects.
Kevin and Mia jump between them, blocking the attack.
"Surprise!" shouts Jayden as he and Evie launch themselves at him from behind.
The Nighlok turns and barely manages to block their hits, but he quickly recovers. "I think it's time for a change," he smirks as he knocks Evie out of the way and knocks Jayden backwards before switching him with the gnome on a nearby table.
"Jayden" cries Evie as she pulls herself up and her eyes widen as Jayden takes on the pose of the gnome and de-morphs as in a trance as the others.
"Oh Switchbeast you've done it again, time to finish him off. One blow and the red ranger is history" cackles Switchbeast as he moves to destroy the gnome.
"Not on my watch," snarls Evie as she sends her whip at the gnome and wrapping around it, she pulls it back catching it in her arms.
Mike attacks then, "history isn't my best subject."
"Well then let me school you," retorts Switchbeast as he knocks Mike aside.
Kevin and Mia attack then as well and Evie sets Jayden down behind Antonio's stall.
"In 1492, I took out rangers pink and blue," cackles Switchbeast as he sends them both flying with a blast and switches them as well. Kevin going into a music box and Mia into a fan.
"And right now, you pissed of the wrong ranger," says Evie as she launches an attack slicing up Switchbeast's back.
He yelps in pain and turns surprising Evie with the force of his hit and he throws her into one of the stalls, "your turn," he laughs as he switches Evie as well and the next thing she knows she's inside a small statue of a buddha, and her body is sat cross legged in the middle of the mess.
"Oh no you don't!" shouts Emily as she launches her own attack.
Switchbeast starts to dry out and he groans, "already, damn it I need Sanzu water to recharge, this isn't over yet ranger," he warns before disappearing into a gap.
"No," cries Emily, "oh my god, Mia, Kevin." She runs over to where they'd fallen.
Mike crouches down next to Evie, but like the others gets nothing.
"They're all frozen, and that Nighlok thought destroying the gnome, will do the same to Jayden," says Mike and he realises what it means, "he must've switched out Jayden's spirit."
"Man that is messed up."
Between he and Emily they manage to get all five of their teammates back to the house and set them in the main room, filling Ji in on everything.
Emily sets the gnome down and taps its head, "you think they're awake in there?" she asks waving in front of it.
"We're awake, we hear you!" all five of them shout.
"So this Nighlok switches peoples spirits into objects," says Ji.
"Yeah and then the victims' bodies take on the shape of the object," nods Emily.
"Why can't you hear us?" shouts Jayden.
"Hey at least we can still hear each other," comforts Antonio.
"Back and forth, back and forth who knew being a fan was so boring," sighs Mia.
"Boring? If this thing doesn't stop spinning soon, I think I'm going to be sick," moans Kevin.
"Oh deal with, just pick a fixed point on the wall and focus on that. Need I remind you I did 32 fouettés, you're not even having to think about spinning," retorts Evie.
"Well unlike you, I'm not a ballerina."
"What do we do Mike?" asks Emily as she looks at her boyfriend sat next to Evie's body.
"Hmm, so the monster tried to destroy the gnome, but he only attacked it after Jayden was switched into it. I think if the object gets destroyed, the person does too," assumes Mike.
"All those people, we have to save them."
"But how do we figure out what they turned into?" asks Mike.
"We have to try or there's no hope for any of them," says Emily.
"Perhaps if you defeat the Nighlok, then everyone will be freed?" suggests Ji.
"Then we'll have to train hard, until the Nighlok returns," decides Emily.
"Sounds like a plan," agrees Mike.
"Mike doing extra training, the situation must be dire," notes Kevin.
"Hey he's been putting in way more effort lately, curb the judgy there," chides Evie.
"Sorry," apologises Kevin.
"Mike and Emily will fix this, we have to have faith in that," advises Jayden.
"So we wait," says Mia.
"Not like we can do much else," replies Antonio.
"At least we can talk, like Antonio said," says Kevin.
"Anyone wanna pick a topic?" offers Mia.
"This is going to be a long day," sighs Evie.
A few minutes after everyone has walked out of the room, Mike snuck back in and with a smirk he executes his plan before disappearing again to train.
Mike was practising out in the garden when he turns and sees Emily leaning against the training dummy.
"Been awhile since I saw you train on your own."
"Been awhile since I tried to take on a Nighlok by myself," replies Mike.
"I remember when you took on that long-armed Nighlok," reminds Emily with a smile, "you did great."
Mike sighs, "I did lousy."
"If Jayden hadn't been watching my back…" he trails off and sits down, doubt swirling inside him. "That Nighlok would've clobbered me."
Emily walks over to him, "but you figured out how to beat him. Besides, you won't be by yourself."
"But what happened to the others, I can't let that happen to you," admits Mike, "I've never understood how Jayden can just watch Evie run headfirst into danger, and not completely fall apart from it."
Emily smiles softly, "nothing is going to happen to me," she promises cupping his cheek, "we'll beat this Nighlok together."
Mike smiles and leans forwards he kisses her before pulling back, "damn straight," he nods before standing up again.
"And one more thing," says Emily.
"What?"
"I saw what you did to Kevin. When we do switch everyone back, he's going to be really mad at you, and Evie is not going to love you went into her room and rooted through her closet," warns Emily with a smile as she kisses his cheek before walking back inside.
Mike just smirks.
Kevin meanwhile did not find it as funny as he looked at his body with a pink tutu now wrapped around him.
"When I get out of here, Mike is so going to get it."
"And I am not loving that he went into my room and through my closet" agrees Evie with narrowed eyes, "little brothers are the worst," she decides, "and Kevin you better not damage that when we get switched back."
"Aw come on, you look kinda cute," smiles Mia.
Jayden and Antonio laugh while Evie lets out a snort.
"Cute?" demands Kevin.
Ji walks through then, doing a double take as he looks at Kevin before just shaking his head and continuing walking through.
"No Mentor come back, get it off me!" yells Kevin.
"Tell me I made a prettier sugar plum fairy than Kevin does?" ask Evie.
"A much prettier sugar plum fairy," promises Jayden before they all dissolve into laughter again before Ji stops and smells the air, "what's that smell?" he wonders.
"Ugh," says Mia.
"Ugh," agrees Jayden.
"I hate fish," shudders Evie.
Ji turns to the fish that Antonio was stuck in, and picks it up.
"It's not my fault, I'm a fish out of water," pleads Antonio.
"I'll put him in the refrigerator before he spoils," decides Ji as he walks into the kitchen.
"Wow hey let's talk about this?" pleads Antonio, "I'm your boy right?" he begs as Ji reaches the kitchen when suddenly the gap sensor starts to blare.
"Oh no," says Ji as he sets the plate with the fish down and hurries back out to find Mike and Emily.
"No don't leave me here," cries Antonio.
The four rangers in the living room watch as Ji grabs the black box and knows he's giving it to Mike.
"Time to pray," says Kevin.
"Mike's got this, Emily too," assures Evie.
"One hundred percent," agrees Mia.
"We have to have faith," nods Jayden.
"Do you think we're going to have cramp when we get back into our bodies for being in position for too long?" asks Evie suddenly.
"Really that's what you're worried about?" asks Kevin.
"What, I can tell you from experience, your foot and you shoulder are going to kill you," warns Evie, "and I can just tell my foot has gone to sleep" she adds looking at her body.
"My arm is going to hate me, and so will my cheeks," winces Jayden.
"Oh yikes, my legs are going to be so achy," agrees Mia.
"Antonio is going to have some serious problems too" says Kevin noting the positing he was lying in.
"So now we wait", says Evie.
"We wait," agrees Jayden.
None of them are sure how much time passes before suddenly they're back in their own bodies, and each one feels the injuries they'd predicted as Evie stands up and promptly falls onto the floor as her entire leg had gone to sleep under her.
Antonio meanwhile saw a far bigger problem than boredom, as a cat appears in the open window.
"Oh god," he gulps when he sees it eyeing up his fish.
He watches unable to do anything but scream helplessly as the cat began to approach him.
"No, no, please," he begs as the cat starts licking the fish.
He screams and in the next moment he's back in his own body and he screams as he checks he's himself again.
"Woah Antonio," soothes Mia.
"Buddy, you're okay," assures Jayden.
"Yeah, no more fish," promises Evie.
Antonio however just screams and throws himself off the stools dashing into the kitchen, "no, no, no," he cries as he gets to the kitchen and sees the cat has started to eat the fish, and he promptly faints, hitting the floor hard.
The other four stop in the doorway in surprise looking between the fish and Antonio.
"Antonio?" asks Kevin while Evie pokes him with her foot but gets no reaction and then their gazes shift to Kevin in the tutu.
He blushes and runs from the room, "don't damage it!" yells Evie before the three turn and all let out a laugh.
It's a little while later when Emily and Mike return home.
"I knew you could do it," smiles Evie as she hugs Emily while Mia hugs Mike.
"It was mostly Mike."
"You did good too Em," assures Mike as Jayden claps him on the arm before Evie hugs him, "you're lucky you have the eternal love as your get out of jail free card for going through my closet," she warns.
"Thanks" smiles Mike, "got to admit, it was too good an opportunity to miss."
"True enough" nods Evie, "you took pictures, right?"
"Oh yeah," nods Mike.
Soon enough Ji has started up the grill and is handing out burgers as they gather around the table, Jayden still nursing his arm and Kevin found Evie was right, both his shoulder and his leg were aching.
"I can't believe you switched bodies with Switchbeast. I never would've thought of that," smiles Kevin as he sits down looking at Mike.
"Wasn't like I wanted too, it was creepy."
"Yeah, it's very creepy seeing your boyfriend in a Nighlok body and have a Nighlok in your boyfriends body," agrees Emily.
"You did it by yourselves, just the two of you," compliments Mia.
"Weirdest date ever," replies Mike.
"I'll say," laughs Emily, "lets maybe make the next one a little less stress inducing."
"Definitely," smiles Mike.
"Well if not for you I'd still be a buddha statue, and have a gnome for a boyfriend, so thanks."
"Not my best look," snorts Jayden.
"Yeah thanks guys," smiles Kevin.
Mike flips open his samuraiser and shows the pictures of Kevin to the others who all laugh, "send that to me," says Evie.
Mike does so and turns to Kevin, "so you're not even mad about this?" he asks as he shows the picture to Kevin.
"You took pictures?" gasps Kevin in horror.
Mike just smirks.
"Give me that!" shouts Kevin as he swipes for it but Mike pulls it back and takes off across the garden, Kevin chasing after him while the rest of them laugh.
"Even if he gets his hands on it, he knows better than to come near me," chuckles Evie as she flips open her samuraiser and shows them the pictures now on hers as well.
"You're cruel," smiles Jayden.
"I know," shrugs Evie as she takes a bite of her burger.
Later that evening Mike found Jayden in his room sketching Kevin in his tutu.
"Hey, you got a sec?" he asks.
"Sure," nods Jayden shutting the sketchpad and setting it down while Mike shut the door behind him and took a seat on Jayden's bed.
"What's on your mind?"
"I need to ask you something, and I hope I'm not prying but you're the only one I can ask about this," sighs Mike.
Jayden looks at him, "does this have something to do with Emily?"
Mike nods, "how do you do it?"
"What?" asks Jayden.
"How do you send Evie into situations where you know she could get hurt or worse, and not worry about it. I mean the thought of what happened to you happening to Emily almost drove me nuts today" admits Mike, "I don't get how you're so cool about it, I know Evie is a badass and all but still?"
Jayden sighs, "you want the truth?"
Mike nods.
"I'm not," answers Jayden, "I hate sending all of you into danger, but sending Evie, it's like a punch in the gut every time. I hate the fact I have to send the woman I love into something that could literally cost her, her life. And I hate how much she wants to protect everyone."
"What do you mean?" asks Mike.
"Deker explained it, you've seen how protective Evie is, not just of me but of us all. She fights more fiercely for those she loves because she knows how it feels when the one who is meant to protect you, doesn't.
Evie is a complete badass and one time while we battled moogers, I tried to put myself between her and them, she spent the next week putting me on my ass for it. She was so angry with me honestly, I thought she'd never speak to me again. And I learnt to curb it, but it doesn't mean I'm not terrified every time we fight and I lose sight of her, or she gets hurt and I can't immediately get to her.
I know Evie can handle herself, I trust her with my life and there is no one else I'd want to have my back. But part of me, part of me a lot of the time is screaming at me to get her as far away as I can, to try and keep her safe, or keep her out of the fighting somehow. But I can't and I know I can't, not only because it's her duty as much as it is mine, but because I respect her and her abilities.
And because I know I can't protect her from everything, just as she can't protect me. Ji told us not long after he'd found out about our relationship, that there were going to be points in our life where despite our relationship and our bond, we couldn't fight each other's battles, and we were going to have to stand back and let the other deal with them.
You care about Emily, she means a lot to you, I've known that since before you asked her out. And it's perfectly natural to want to protect her and for your brain to go a little haywire when she's in danger, mine does exactly the same thing with Evie. But you have to control it, and curb it. Not only because it might do more harm than good in a battle, but because you need to trust and respect her decisions, she's a samurai ranger too. Much as you might wish she wasn't, you have to calm that part of you, and move past it, hard as it may be. Have her back rather than trying to be her shield, and do what you can to support her without smothering her, or making her feel inferior. Emily is not as strong as fighter as Evie I know, but she has her own skills and abilities. She's not helpless Mike, and you have to remember that, ignore the primal instincts as Evie puts it, and think like a level headed person" replies Jayden.
"So you really feel that, it does actually mess with your head?" clarifies Mike.
"Sometimes, when I saw Evie take that hit for me in the canyon and I watched her fall, it gave me nightmares, and after we got her back from Deker. I woke up so many times just to check she was still next to me, safe and sound. When someone you love is in danger it's a terror unlike any other, but you can't let it control you. You have to think like a samurai, like a rational human being rather than an overprotective boyfriend.
It takes work, it takes practice and there will be times where there is no controlling it, but for the most part, you have to trust in her abilities. Train with her, remind yourself how strong she is, and think with your head and not your heart," advises Jayden.
Mike smiles, "okay, thanks man."
"Anytime" replies Jayden, "like you say, not many people you can talk about it."
"So Evie really put you on your ass for a week?"
"Brutally, painfully, there was no hugging, no kissing, no touching of any kind. Said if I couldn't think like a rational person instead of a caveman then I wasn't getting a damn thing."
"Ouch."
"Yeah, when Evie makes a point, she makes a point," confirms Jayden.
"I'm aware, just lucky I've got my get out of jail free card for going through her wardrobe," he admits.
"She might've said that then, but watch it, she'll wait and get you back somehow."
"Don't doubt it." smiles Mike, "so how did you get her to forgive you?"
"Lots of grovelling, repeatedly getting my ass kicked and buying her a new pair of shoes I knew she'd been eyeing up. Not to mention dinner at a very nice restaurant, plus a couple other things I'm not telling you about."
"I get the picture."
"Emily has gotten much stronger Mike, her symbol power and her skills with her sword and her slicer have improved so much. She can protect herself from the Nighlok, just be supportive, and show her you trust her. You can tell her you're worried, that's fine, I tell Evie and she'll tell me. But you don't let it control you and you have to try not to let it affect your decisions," adds Jayden patting Mike's arm reassuringly.
"I know" nods Mike, "and she's only getting better."
"She is, every day" agrees Jayden, "our whole team is."
"Thanks."
"Strange as it might be, if you need to talk Mike, I'm here, whether its ranger related or your relationship with Emily. I know Emily goes to Evie and I know do as well, but if you need a guy's perspective, you can talk to me. I know you see Evie as your sister so I trust you not to ask for details."
"Yeah, no one needs to know things like that about their big sister."
"No, they don't" concurs Jayden, "but for other stuff, by all means, talk to me."
Mike nods and stands up, "fancy a game?"
Jayden smiles, "you just like beating me."
"One of the few things I can beat you at."
"Well as Evie says, practice makes perfect," chuckles Jayden as he stands up and the two of them head into the living room and start up a game, Mike feeling decidedly better about everything.
Mike was finishing up a game Jayden having gone to bed a little while before, but he found he was still feeling too wired to sleep. And right now he'd probably just piss Kevin off with his restlessness.
"Can't sleep?" asks a voice and Mike jumps causing him to crash his car on his game.
"Oh sorry," apologises Emily with a wince.
Mike smiles, "no worries, I've beaten this level a couple of times," he assures turning it off.
Emily walks over and sits down next to him in her pyjamas.
"Why are you up?" asks Mike noting her attire.
"Still a little wired."
"Me too" nods Mike, "hard as it was, taking on that Nighlok, just us, it felt really good. Especially with the Black Box."
"I know exactly what you mean, and while you did most of the work, knowing it was just us and we did it. It does feel really good."
"Em-" starts Mike.
Emily covers his mouth with her hand, "no, stop trying to share all the credit with me, I did my part. But the idea, the plan, the execution, that was all you Mike," interrupts Emily with a smile, "you did amazingly today, you saved everyone" she adds pulling her hand away.
Mike smiles, "thanks Em."
"Anytime," she assures Emily, "I just can't believe for once, I wasn't the one who ended up as an ornament."
"Don't sell yourself short Em, you've come on in leaps and bounds since you arrived. I trusted you completely to have my back today, and you did," reminds Mike, thinking back to what Jayden had said to him, support without smothering.
"Well that's thanks to all of you guys," replies Emily.
"And your own perseverance, I know I've wanted to give up, hell I have, and I ran off. But you, you keep getting back up, you don't run away, you just keep on pushing forwards."
Emily looks down a light blush covering her cheeks.
Mike takes her hand, "I mean it Em, no matter what happens, you don't give up, and that puts you in a level all your own. And I couldn't have done it alone today."
Emily glances at him and smiles, "team effort."
"Team effort."
Emily shivers then and Mike grabs one of the blankets and wraps it around both of them, looping his arm around Emily as she rests against his side.
"You know for someone who is always complaining about the cold, you're warm."
Mike chuckles, "maybe that's just the effect you have."
Emily just giggles and snuggles against him, "we did good today," she murmurs.
"We did" nods Mike kissing the top of her head, "though next time, I promise you a far less eventful date."
"I'm holding you to that," smiles Emily looking up at him.
"Next time, we're going somewhere nice and quiet."
"Ice cream?"
"Maybe somewhere a little nicer, but I will make sure it has ice cream."
Emily smiles and leans up, kissing him softly, "thank you."
They sit together for a little longer before Mike lets out a yawn which triggers Emily's and they head to bed.
A/N: So I know I skipped Emily and Mike's fight, but since I wasn't changing anything I figured no point trying to regurgitate it word for word. Its cooler to just go watch the scene :)